Kate Ritchie returns Home for soap's anniversary

The Seven Network confirmed today actress Kate Ritchie, who played Home and Away's definitive girl next door Sally Fletcher for two decades, will return to the soap.

Ritchie will return to film a storyline for the show's 25th anniversary. The episodes will be filmed in the next few weeks and air over several months later this year.

"There will be a wonderful sense of familiarity stepping back into Sally's shoes for a while," Ritchie said.

"Summer Bay is a very different place these days and I am looking forward to working with all the fresh faces that have continued to take Home and Away from strength to strength.

"It will be a good opportunity to catch up with some old mates too. Those cast and crew I worked with for so many years are who I have missed the most."

Ritchie left the show at the end of 2007, though she was seen on screen until early 2008.

She had been with Home and Away for 20 years, filming her first scenes as a nine-year-old.

Ritchie grew up on Australian TV, blossoming into a star, winning five TV Week Logie Awards, including two Gold Logies, the award for the most popular personality on TV.

"It's a new beginning for me. I don't know myself without Sally Fletcher," she told Fairfax on her last day of filming.

Her final storyline involved the arrival of a stranger, played by Josh Quong Tart, the word "Milco" (the name of Sally's childhood imaginary friend) written in the sand and an on-air promotion campaign which promised to solve "a 20-year-old mystery".

It was revealed that Sally's imaginary friend was actually formed from the memory of a separated twin, Miles Copeland, played by actor Josh Quong Tart.

Home and Away's series producer Lucy Addario said the character "holds such a special place in the heart of the show".

"We trust fans will be as excited as we are to watch her story unfold and follow Sally's journey again."